טָעַם (b. h.) [to be bright, wise (v. Ps. XXXIV, 9),] to examine, to taste, test, try, experience. Yoma 22ᵇ לא ט׳ טַעַם חטא never tasted the taste of sin (was innocent). Y. Succ. V, 55ᵇ לא היו טוֹעֲמִין טעם וכ׳ had not even a taste of sleep. Ber. 35ᵃ אסור … שיִטְעוֹם וכ׳ one must not taste food without a blessing. Ib. 14ᵃ מהו שיטעום dare he (who fasts) taste food when cooking? Num. R. s. 7 כל מי … היה טוֹעֲמוֹ whoever desired to eat meat felt its taste (in the mannah); a. v. fr.
Hif. - הִטְעִים 1) to give to taste. Ned. 66ᵇ עד שתַּטְעִימִי … לרב וכ׳ until thou makest R. J. taste of thy dish. B. Mets. 75ᵃ כדי להַטְעִימָן וכ׳ in order to give them a taste of usury (that they might feel its oppressiveness). Cant. R. to VII, 2 תהא … ומטעמני (read ומַטְעִימֵנִי or ומְטַעֲמֵנִי Pi.) thou shalt bring some of them before me and let me taste them; a. fr. —2) to make tasteful, to explain. Sot. 21ᵇ המַטְעִים דבריו וכ׳ who explains his case to the judge (trying to preoccupy him), before his adversary appears; Tanḥ. Mishp. 6; a. e.—V. מַטְעֶמֶת.